Arrest In Connection with Chad/Cameroon Oil and Pipeline Project
6/4/98
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Arrest In Connection with Chad/Cameroon Oil and Pipeline Project
Source: ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, 10th Fl.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Telephone: (202) 387-3500
Facsimile: (202) 234-6049; Kenneth_Walsh@edf.org
Status: Distribute freely with proper credit to source
Date: 6/4/98
To: Human Rights Activists and Environmentalists, Worldwide
From: Kenneth Walsh/Bruce Rich, Environmental Defense Fund
RE: Urgent - Arrest of Chadian Opposition Parliamentarian Mr. Ngarlegy
Yorongar in Connection with the Chad/Cameroon oil and Pipeline Project.
Urgent Action: Please send faxes, express mails, telegrams etc. to the Chadian
government and the World Bank expressing concern about the physical safety, the
arrest, and imminent trial of Ngarlegy Yorongar, a Chadian parliamentarian
under arrest for "defaming" supporters of the Chad/Cameroon oil and pipeline
project. Details follow.
Background
Yesterday, June 3, Chadian Parliamentary Deputy Ngarlegy Yorongar was detained
by the Chadian Government. He is to be tried for "insulting" and defaming the
President of the of the Chadian National Assembly, Wadal Addelkader Kamougue.
In an interview published in the Chadian newspaper l'Observateur in July of
1997, Mr. Yorongar had accused the Assembly president of accepting millions of
French francs to help finance his election campaign from the French oil company
Elf. Elf has a large operation in Chad and is supposed to soon begin
construction on a large oil pipeline through Chad and Cameroon. Along with
Yorongar, two journalists from "l'Observateur" were also arrested. The trial
is supposed to take place imminently, perhaps today or tomorrow.
Mr. Yorongar has had a high public profile in Chad as a major critic of the
government and the oil/pipeline project. As a result, he has been the victim
of politically motivated arrests on several previous occasions.
Earlier this year, Mr. Yorongar had been invited to speak in the European
Parliament about the adverse consequences of the planned oil project. Shortly
before his departure to Europe, however, his parliamentary immunity was
canceled by the government and he was placed under house arrest. During the
period of house arrest, he was subjected to intimidation by Chadian security
forces.
Amnesty International, European Parliamentarians, and concerned international
environmental and human rights NGOs fear for the safety of Ngarlegy Yorongar
and the two journalists. The arrest and anticipated trial of Mr. Yorongar and
the journalists is part of a continuing pattern of human rights violations in
Chad in connection with suppression of opposition to the oil pipeline project.
As part of this campaign of suppression, in October 1997 at least 80 people,
principally civilians, were killed when the Government broke a peace agreement.
The latest arrests are a clear indication that it is not now possible to openly
discuss the oil and Pipeline Project within Chad. According to Amnesty
International, there are frequent reports in Chad of killings, arbitrary
arrests, torture and other human rights abuses.
Please send faxes, telegrams, airmail letters, etc. expressing your concerns
and appeals to:
President Idries DEBY
President de la Republic
BP 74 N'DJAMENA
Republique du Tchad
Telegrams: President DEBY, N'Djamena, Chad
Faxes: 235 51 45 01
Salutation: Monsieur le President
Monsieur Abdramane SALLAH
Minist?re de l'Interieur
N'DJAMENA
Republique du Tchad
Telegrams: Ministre Interieur, N'Djamena, Chad
Faxes: 00 235 52 58 85
Please express to the Chadian government your concerns regarding :
- the arrest and impending trial of Ngarlegy Yorongar and the journalists
- the physical safety of Yorongar and other critics of the government and oil
project
- the pattern of human rights violations by security forces
- suppression of freedom of expression
Since the World Bank is helping to finance the Chad/Cameroon oil pipeline
project, please also consider writing, faxing, express mailing, etc. messages
to:
James Wolfensohn
President
The World Bank
1818 H Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433
Faxes: 202 522 0355 or 202 522 1677
Ask Mr. Wolfensohn to send a note of concern to the Chadian government.
Ask him to use all possible diplomatic and political means to ensure that the
detainees receive a fair trial.
Ask him to suspend all ongoing plans and preparations for the Chad/Cameroon oil
and pipeline Project until Mr. Yorongar and the two journalists have been
released, their safety has been guaranteed and the right to publicly discuss
the impacts of the project in Chad is established.
Sources: Amnesty International, May 29.
Urgewald, Germany, June 4.